Special Service and Features
PM FASAL BIMA CROP INSURANCE PROTECTING FARMERS FROM CROP LOSS DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL
TRICHY FARMERS URGED TO PAY PREMIUM FOR RABI CROPS
Covid 19 pandemic lockdown stressed the importance of vocal for local after the clarion call given by Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi. AatmaNirbhar Bharat- Self reliant India schemes helped people to overcome the economic issues. However the most incredible was the resilience of the farmers who toiled to ensure food security of the nation with a bumper harvest. Farmers are at the receiving end as agriculture gets easily affected by vagaries of nature. Burevi cyclone led heavy rainfall especially in delta districts Thanjavur, Nagai and other central districts of Trichy, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Ariyalur which had affected farmers badly. PM FasalBima crop insurance scheme had helped many farmers to overcome the loss of crops due to heavy rains.
Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana  was launched during Kharif season of 2016 with the aim of supporting production in agriculture by providing assured crop insurance. PMFBY aims at supporting sustainable production in agriculture sector by way of providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damages arising out of unforeseen events. The farmers are encouraged to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices. The scheme is optional for all farmers including farmers who have been sanctioned short-term Seasonal Agricultural Operations loans/Kisan Credit Card for the notified crops. Aadhaar has been made mandatory for availing Crop insurance from Kharif 2017 season onwards. Central subsidy will be 30 percent for unirrigated crops and 25 per cent for irrigated areas. Farmers who have taken agriculture crop loans should take insurance in that bank itself.
In Tamil Nadu, 11.97 lakh hectare area of agricultural crops are insured under PM FasalBimaYojana with sum insurance of Rs 7705.17 crore so far. The total premium paid is Rs 2605 crore out of which central govt paid Rs 884 crore, Tamil Nadu govt paid Rs 1601 crore and farmers paid Rs 119.27 crore.
Trichy district administration has urged farmers to pay premium for Rabi season. The last date for premium payment of Rs 409.50 per acre for ground nuts is February 1 next year. The premium for rice fallow rice pulse- black gram Rs 192 per acre should be paid before February 15. For paddy last date is February 22 for payment of premium Rs 511.5 per acre. For maize last date is March 1 for premium of Rs 360 per acre for pulses it is March 1 for premium of Rs 248 per acre. For gingelly crops premium of Rs 204 per acer should be paid before March 31 and sugarcane premium of Rs 2650 per acre should be paid before October 31. For banana plantation premium of Rs 3120 per acre should be paid before March 1 and onion premium of Rs 1860 per acre should be paid before February 15 and tapioca premium of RS 1440 per acre should be paid before December 15.
PM FasalBimaYojana assures protection for farmers from loss due to natural calamities. Awareness about schemes for the benefit of farmers is being popularised by agriculture officials so that farmers who feed the nation don’t suffer financially.This would also be an important support to farmers whose income is expected to double by 2022 by various such interventions by Union government .